A Superior Court judge has ruled that a Bridgton man fatally shot his former brother-in-law but was not criminally responsible at the time.

David Pinkham

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Marchese said David Pinkham has now been committed to Riverview Psychiatric Center. Pinkham killed 66-year-old Charles Cross outside his Sebago home in 2016, and his mental competency had been in question from the beginning of his case. Justice Lance Walker issued the ruling July 20.

Cross had been married to Pinkham’s sister for more than 20 years before they divorced about two decades ago. Police said the two men remained friends after the divorce. Pinkham had visited Cross at home on March 5, 2016. They chatted in the kitchen and then walked outside. Cross’ longtime girlfriend was in the living room when she heard a “pop-pop” noise outside.

“She looked out the window and saw Cross laying in the snowbank,” a state police affidavit says.

Pinkham drove off, and Cross’ girlfriend called 911. Police in Bridgton pulled over Pinkham’s car about 10 minutes later and saw he had a Taurus .38-caliber revolver in plain view on the front passenger seat. Police later determined that Pinkham bought the gun less than two weeks before the shooting, the affidavit says.

He was arrested immediately and indicted on a murder charge the following month. The motive for the shooting was unclear, and his attorney had said Pinkham was not competent to stand trial.